Daily Nation Health Nation Magazine
Date: 22.11.2016
Page 7
Article size: 219 cm2
ColumnCM: 48.66
AVE: 0.0
| NEGLECTED DISEASES
Multi­million­shilling drive to end elephantiasis moves to the coast
BY EUNICE KILONZO
ekilonaoiisfe. nation media, com
THE GOVERNMENT has set aside nearly
Shi billion to treat elephantiasis, a disease
characterised by disfigured gigantic legs,
breasts and genitals, in five counties of the
coastal region.
Elephantiasis, also called lymphatic filaria­
sis, does not have symptoms but leads to per­
manent physical disability. It also causes the
thickening and hardening of skin. It is caused
by a thread­like microscopic worm, which is
spread through a mosquito bite.
The ambitious project, funded by various
donors, will target over 3.5 million residents
of Mombasa, Kilifi, Lamu, Tana River and Taita
treatment, while Eisai will donate 8.4 mil­
throughout the body to remove waste, bacte­
Taveta counties with drugs to kill traces of
the parasite that causes the disease, and sur­
lion tablets of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate
ria, and other substances from tissues.
(DEC), used in the treatment of el
gical procedures for those with complications
arising from infection.
However, children below two years, expect­
ant women, those sick, and the elderly will be
ephantiasis. These drugs cost about
Sh400million and will be provided
for three years.
Further, the donors will also
excluded.
give Kenya deworming tablets
The donors include The End Fund (set up
to control and eliminate neglected tropical
diseases such as leprosy, elephantiasis, river
blindness, and rabies), Glaxo SmithKline (a
valued at about Sh700 million.
British pharmaceutical company) and Eisai (a
from genital disease complications, particu­
larly swelling of the scrotum and testicles due
to lymph fluid build­up, also called hydrocele.
Japanese pharmaceutical firm).
The End Fund has committed to giving
Kenya Sh80 million annually to carry out the
Statistics from the Ministry of
Health show that elephantiasis af­
fects nearly 80,000 men who suff
Lymph is a thin, clear fluid that circulates
Another 55,000 people, mostly
women, suffer from lymphedema,
where excess lymph collects in tis­
sues and causes swelling (edema)
in legs, for instance, due to dam­
age to, or dysfunction of, the
lymphatic system. This curtails
the mobility of those infected and
is a cause of severe disability, pain
and social stigma.
Head of the Neglected Tropical Diseases
Unit, Dr Sultani Matendechero (above), told
HealthyNation that "hydrocele can be cor­
rected through surgery, but lymphedema can
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
only be managed as it cannot be reversed".
"Therefore," he added, "hygiene to keep
the infected area clean is paramount. Also,
patients are advised to elevate the affected
limbs to help the collected fluid to circulate."
Dr Matendechero said this is part of a
campaign that began last year in other parts
of the country and is now scaled up to include
the coast regions. The targeted communities
will also be taught how to prevent the dis­
ease, which is mainly linked to poor sanitation
and improper housing that offers breading
grounds for mosquitoes.
It is part of an ongoing global campaign to
eliminate elephantiasis by 2020, spearheaded
by the World Health Organisation.